Geneseo, N.Y.—Anthony
J. Macula, associate professor of mathematics at the State University of New
York at Geneseo, is working on three different projects that could have a major
impact on how diseases are identified and how computers may be designed in the
future.

The first project, "A
Two-Dimensional DNA Matrix Based Bio-molecular Computing and Memory," aims to
design and process DNA molecules to perform computing operations in a faster
and more efficient way than is possible today.

"An integrated circuit in a
computer only has so much space," says Macula. "Using DNA molecules as a
medium, we are trying to make a computer perform the same operations on a much
smaller scale."

Macula's project has the
potential to create an increase in computational capacity by up to a billion
times the current rate.

The project is funded by a
$504,000 grant from the Advanced Computer Architecture Division of United
States Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, N.Y.

Apart from leading the DNA
project, Macula also is the project director for the "Undergraduate
Biomathematical Career Initiative Project at SUNY Geneseo."

This project, funded by an
$804,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, allows the college to
offer undergraduate cross-disciplinary research and training in biomathematics.

Working alongside Macula and
co-investigators Gregg Hartvigsen, associate professor of biology; Christopher
Leary, professor of mathematics; and Wendy Knapp Pogozelski, professor of
chemistry, students have the opportunity to work on lab verification protocols
for DNA molecules, software tools for DNA design, biological network analysis
and epidemiology.

In addition, Macula works as
the director for the SUNY Geneseo sub-contracted project named, "BIO-CAD Tools
for DNA Computing." This work is funded by CFD Research Corporation, located in
Huntsville, Ala.

The goal of this project is
to incorporate the DNA software tool SynDCode into a computer-aided design tool
that simulates a biological computer.

"This project is really
working to further science," says Macula. "SynDCode may be the best DNA code
software in existence, and it can help researchers find, discover and fight
diseases."

Macula developed SynDCode
with Morgan Bishop, who graduated from Geneseo in 2004 with a bachelor's degree
in computer science. It is available as freeware at syndcode.geneseo.edu.

Macula, of
Geneseo, N.Y., has been teaching mathematics at Geneseo for 13 years. He
received his bachelor's degree from SUNY Plattsburgh in 1983 and his Ph.D. from
Wesleyan University in 1989.

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Written by Joe Mignano,
public relations intern in the Office of Communications and Publications.